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Buddy's PALS:
Educational Comfort Dogs

Buddy’s PALS (Pet Assisted Learning) is an all-volunteer program that brings specially trained comfort dogs and handlers into classrooms and other educational institutions to assist with everyday learning, comfort, and stress reduction. Our mission is to alleviate stress and anxiety in students and educators alike, while also promoting the benefits of kindness toward animals.

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Educational 

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Comfort

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Volunteer-based

About Buddy's PALS

Buddy’s PALS (Pet Assisted Learning) is a nonprofit organization that brings highly trained comfort dogs and handlers into classrooms and other educational institutions to assist with everyday learning, comfort, and stress reduction. We believe that animal-assisted education is an effective way to promote emotional well-being and improve academic performance. Our program is completely free for educational institutions, and we rely on donations to continue our work.

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What is an educational comfort dog?

What is an educational comfort dog? 
Educational comfort dogs are personal pets that work together with their owners to provide comfort and support in learning environments. Our teams volunteer in educational settings such as K-12 schools, colleges and universities, libraries, and other partner organizations. Dogs are great listeners!

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Our Mission

The mission of Buddy's PALS is to support the education of young people in our community. It takes a village to raise every child, and Buddy's PALS promises to be there to provide comfort and growth every step of the way.​

 

Buddy's PALS now has over 60 handler teams in the Greater Lansing area that volunteer in schools, libraries, and other partner organizations across the region and is expanding to other areas in Michigan.

 

Buddy's PALS achieved 501(c)(3) status in 2022. Our EIN is 88-3824936.

Our Team

Our team is comprised of dedicated volunteers who are passionate about the learning and comfort support for children. We work with children in schools, libraries, school events, any event that helps in the education of children.

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A Buddy's PALS dog and handler can be anyone or any breed! The most important factor is the dog's personality and temperament. Buddy's PALS volunteers and their dogs are even-tempered, good-natured, and enjoy being around kids. Buddy's PALS dogs are well-trained, having mastered basic obedience skills such as being able perform the following: sit, down, loose leash walking, remain in a down/stay, leave it, and recall.

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Meet Buddy, the Educational Comfort Dog, who is having a big impact on local kids.

Fourteen year-old Bennett Starmer was recently reunited with his friend Buddy, an educational comfort dog, who is a celebrity in many schools, including Scott Elementary School in Dewitt.

 

FOX47 Good Neighbors video Click Here

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For Facebook video click Click Here

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Also, you can find the story on YouTube Click Here

 

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